Originally designed in the late 1800s by Jose Luis
Monteiro, a leading architect of his time, Lisbon's Rossio Station
is a Portuguese landmark that had, over the years, been extensively
remodeled, resulting in a poorly designed and serviced mainline
railway station that had lost much of its historical charm and
status.

As well as an efficient layout original details, such as
Monteiro's cast iron framed windows, are now viewed in an
uncluttered setting.

White walls and wooden floors throughout create a clean, simple
and modern space, while the choice of up-lighting enhances the
simplicity and verticality of the Rossio Station's expansive walls,
and creates non-obtrusive lighting for a comfortable working
environment.

Photo: Fernando Guerra

Photo: Fernando Guerra

During the restoration of the original structure of Rossio
Station, the Broadway Malyan team unearthed an unexpected
architectural gem: an ornate, cast iron and glass ceiling that had
been hidden beneath a layer of plasterboard. Once unveiled and
restored, the striking ceiling helped recreate a light and spacious
room from which several areas of the building can be viewed. The
use of glass between connecting rooms further increases the sense
of fluid space and unity.

Photo:
Fernando GuerraBroadway Malyan found
ornate, cast iron and glass ceiling that had been hidden beneath a
layor of plasterboard.

Glass was integral to the refurbishment, not just because it was
fundamental to Monteiro's original design, but also because it
provides a visual link between the station area and newly designed
office space. Specially engineered Cool-Lite glass, which has high
tech acoustic and thermic properties, has been used by Broadway
Malyan to regulate sound and temperature while helping to retain
the original look and feel of the station's exterior windows.

Broadway Malyan also worked to sensitively restore sections of the
scheme that are rich in historical detail such as the King's
waiting room, where Portuguese royalty would wait in privacy for
their trains. The room now incorporates original stonework, plaster
and wood detail.

Photo: Fernando GuerraKing's waiting room.

The Broadway Malyan team also attended to the Rossio Station
building's immediate surroundings. The old market square, adjacent
to the Rossio Station, was being used by commuters as an unofficial
and unsightly car park. The space has now been transformed into an
elegant public plaza, with seating and shopping facilities,
providing a positive space to greet visitors entering the
city.

Photo: Fernando Guerra

The facades of the buildings framing the new public plaza were
also renovated to match the quality of Rossio Station's refurbished
exterior. To further integrate the station with surrounding
architecture, local stone, Lioz, was sourced for use both within
Rossio itself and to upgrade street paving bordering the
building.

Photo: Fernando Guerra

Photo: Fernando GuerraOriginal design detail sensitively
restored.

With the building's interior space reconnected, original
structure and design detail sensitively restored, and surrounding
area rejuvenated, Rossio Station has been reinstated as the train
station and landmark building it was originally designed to
be.